I rise as well to thank the senior Senator from Washington for her insight and to echo the comments from my colleagues, especially my good friend from Alaska. The not-for-profit student loan servicer in my State, the Alaska Student Loan…

Let me ask you the issue we briefly talked about yesterday, but you mentioned close to your closing there, on the U.S. weather research program.

I strongly support a renewed emphasis on ensuring the necessary management policies and resources are directed toward improving our ability to forecast and warn in advance of severe weather events.

I think of Georgetown, Minnesota, which is threatened every time the Red River rises and the Buffalo River overflows.

What a better day to have on weather, to talk about it, where Alaska is warmer and the rest of the country is colder.

Let me ask you another issue, on the Arctic operations.

I do want to say at least in the Alaska region things are improving and we want to recognize that and give you credit for that.

it does take dedication and time away from your family, and the hours will be longer than you probably expected or whatever they told it would be.

But it is a government-to-government relationship.

We have to fix that.

I can't think of one project that just kind of like planted themselves down in our community ... and just suddenly, they are in business.

But the challenge is, we took their land. So they are trying to get their land back.

I also want to say that I am anxious to see what the House does and produces.

In my opinion, from an Alaska context on this, the legislative fix of the 2009 Supreme Court ruling regarding the ability for tribes to take land in trust, this is not a place, and I know there is some work here, this is not a place to…

Keeping Alaska status quo is what we are interested in.

We are one of those 15 cases, I think you said 15 different cases. We are one of them.

I think this is very telling of what we should be doing.

That is the fundamental issue here, it is a government-to-government relationship.

But it is a percentage?

I don't want to have anything in this legislation that changes the way Alaska has been operating.

But one city doesn't regulate another city.

I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 294, submitted earlier today by Senators Landrieu, Inhofe, and others. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title. The bill…

If I can leave you with a thought... would you mind considering that thought and bring back to the Committee at some point?

I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 293, which was submitted earlier today. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title. The bill clerk read as follows: A resolution (S. Res…

I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________